The outspoken U.S. figure skater and bronze medalist, who has become one of the most well-known athletes at the PyeongChang Games, has been hired by NBC to work as a correspondent for the final week of the Winter Olympics. An NBC spokesperson tells USA Today he'll work on a variety of platforms, including television, digital and social media. Rippon, the first openly gay man to medal at the Winter Olympics, made headlines for criticizing Vice President Mike Pence over gay rights. Rippon has also said he wouldn't attend President Trump's ceremony honoring the Winter Olympians.

“I will not just shut up and dribble because I mean too much to my two boys here, their best friend right here, my daughter that’s at home and my wife and my family,” the NBA superstar said of Fox News' Laura Ingraham at an NBA All-Star Game press conference. “And all these other kids who look up to me for inspiration and try to find a way out. The best thing she did was create more awareness. I appreciate her for even giving me even more awareness. For me to sit up here, at the greatest weekend, NBA All-Star weekend, and I get to sit up here and talk about social justice, equality, and why a woman on a certain network decided to tell me to 'shut up and dribble. So, thank you, whatever her name is, don’t even know her name.” ALSO: Ingraham invites James on her show.